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Harz in December.

Discussion in 'International Heritage Railways/Tramways' started by KHARDS, Jul 27, 2013.

  1. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Sorry but I can't agree that the "mallets are not worth bothering about". 5906 always gives a good show on that 1 in 25 out of Magdesprung which is actually the steepest on the whole HSB system. Of course, being compounds, Mallets won't be as loud as a simple like the 2-10-2Ts because they use the steam twice - all that noise is wasted power! If you want to see Mallets on the Brocken look for the "Tradzug" (with green DR coaches) which runs on Saturdays and some Wednesdays. In the past I have always stayed in Wernigerode and Quedlinburg but in future I'll probably not bother staying in Qued as it is easy to get to the Selketalbahn by DB/HEX via Halberstadt or the hourly bus from Wernigerode Bhf. Booking.com has a good range of hotels in Wernigerode - last June we used them to book the 'La Rustica' near the main square, 5 mins from Westerntor and cost 250 quid for 2 people for 4 nights B&B - excellent Italian food too! Ray.
     
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  2. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I've stayed in La Rustica too. Nice place, and the owner's a bit bonkers too! Good food as well.
     
  3. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Have to disagree about the Mallets. Lovely bits of kit IMO. Being compounds they'll never be as loud as the big 99.72 tanks but having stood right next to the smokebox of one on the 1 in 29 climb out of Mägderspung I can vouch for their ability to make plenty of noise and provide good thrash. They make themselves heard on the Brocken too.
     
  4. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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  5. Desiro450

    Desiro450 Guest

  6. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Fred, great photos,thanks for sharing.

    Desiro, I suppose it all comes down to personal preference. For me the Mallets, whilst by no means unique, are refreshingly different from the ubiquitous 2-10-2T's. Ray.
     
  7. worldsteam

    worldsteam Member

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    The Mallets don't thrash has prompted me into action. As others have said, standing on the front balcony close enough to touch the smokebox of bunker first 99.5906 on the 1 in 27 out of Eisfelder T. (steeper than Brocken) and often better is the climb out of Magdesprung, is enough to blow your underpants off!

    Not sure if it has been mentioned here but if staying in Wernigerode your Tourist Card (in exchange for compulsory local tax) includes HATIX, which offers free buses over whole region (not just town). http://www.hatix.info/

    Most Germans stop not in hotels but self-catering apartments/houses and if a few of you, they are very cheap. I use http://urlaub-wr.de/ which isn't cheapest, but very high quality at classic location in the centre of Wernigerode. As said above, you do need some German here though and most such accommodation would be tricky to organise totally in English.

    I agree that DIY or escorted is a personal decision, but I have been less than impressed with tours I have bumped into. Tour leaders getting the punters to buy their tickets on the bus from Hasselfelde to Wernigerode for example, totally oblivious to the fact their HATIX covered that. And other examples of an abysmal lack of local knowledge. For me the special trains rather miss the whole point of the HSB, which is a timetabled steam operation, integrated into the local public transport network.

    I spend hours on the Eurostar and DB websites trying to get the best prices. If flexible it can be very cheap. Cross border travel can be very expensive and there can be advantages in a ticketing breakpoint at Aachen. I tend to cross the border by bus (Eupen - Aachen) but that is getting a bit extreme I agree. You also save money on DB if excluding ICEs on the website and using ICs you get a proper train (i.e. has an engine at one end). I also avoid the Hannover - Wernigerode RE trains which must be some of the worst in Europe. Because DB deals are usually flat fare, you can get illogical routes from the website at no extra charge.

    And do have a go on the Halberstadt trams which are living on borrowed time. HATIX covers it. One branch only sees trams SSuO if you want all the track.

    David
     
  8. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    We stayed in 'Zur Tanne' in the middle of Wernigerode last year, I would happily stay there again.

    One thing to consider is that in German hotels there is often no distinction between a double or a twin room, so you may need to ask if you particularly want one or the other!

    We flew to Dortmund and I have to say it is one of the most relaxed airport experiences I've had, since it is a massive airport with hardly any flights. Some of our party flew to Hannover, but despite being nearer to Wernigerode, the price of the pre-booked DB tickets meant there was nothing much in it, cost-wise. You can get good group discount tickets with DB if you pre-book, but it's worth trying a few weird combinations - in one case we found that two singles was cheaper than a return!

    I have to say that I love the Mallets and we had a brilliant run behind 5906 last year, no doubt helped by the fact that the Selketalbahn was running about an hour behind schedule that day (the entire timetable fell to bits with trains crossing in odd places etc.). We did discover the hard way that Alexisbad is a pretty miserable place to get stuck for an hour in the rain with no trains, though. The other highlight was one of the 2-10-2 tanks on the Eisfelder Talmuhle - DAH section with the 'open' carriage, right behind the loco running in that direction with the soot blasting the raindrops off the trees and soaking us - great fun!

    Phil
     
  9. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I agree with worldsteam that the main point of the HSB is the fact that its a 365 days a year timetabled steam (mostly) operation. Yes a group tour may get you the occasional Doppelausfahrt and the chance of seeing/riding the vintage stock bit a bit of research usually reveals when the HSB is running its own Traditionzug and other specials. Each to his own of course.
    I have stayed in the Hotel Harzquelle in Alrexisbad - soon after reunification and with the Mrs - and it was excellent. No idea what it's like some 20 years later. Sadly the Jägerhof at Sorge is no more but that was a fun place to stay in a "lads outing." In Wernigerode I've stayed in the Hotel Schanzenhaus Aktiv. Not the cheapest but very nice with a spa if you wish to use it. Next door to a ski jump if you fancy doing something different while you're there. :)
     
  10. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I accept that if it's "grunt" you want the Brocken Beasts are unbeatable BUT the Mallets have a quaintness and appeal that has been germinated since my first visit to the area in 1975; I also think that whilst attractive and appealing on the Harzquerbahn they are best on their own line (Selketal) with the climb to Harzgerode being one of the best of many that that line offers; For a REAL appreciation of their appeal however a double departure from Alexisbad is hard to beat BUT I understand this is usually only arranged for charter groups nowadays; fortunately I have sampled one in East German days and appreciated the double departure I sampled in 2008 on an organised railtour.

    I feel we must agree to disagree on the question of "appeal" but at least be grateful that the Harz network still offers opportunities to see German narrow gauge steam at its best - and in all seasons.
     
  11. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Performances vary I suppose. Not had a bad run behind a Mallet nor a 99.72 tank but I've had variable thrash behind the biguns. Best run was back in 1993 and the noise was unbelievable. Subsequent runs have been good but not as good as my first time.
     
  12. Desiro450

    Desiro450 Guest

    Quite. I had to move coaches on a southbound EC from Cologne one morning because of the utter tripe the tour leader was spouting.
    I suppose its like going 'fully inclusive' at some plush resort in a 3rd world tip. Yes, you can pay a huge premium to have your hand held and not have to interface with the 'horrible' locals, none of whom speak the Queens lingo or know how to make 'proper' cups of tea, or you can just do it yourself. I know what I prefer....
     
  13. KHARDS

    KHARDS Well-Known Member

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    Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions. We will try and cram as much as we can into three/four days there.

    To clarify, do most of you DIYers book tickets through DB online? I searched at the weekend and got 25 euros for Brussels to Cologne, but then 62 euros from Cologne to Hanover. Also, you can only book tickets 3 months or less before travelling. Correct?
     
  14. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I've always flown and hired a car but a couple of mates of mine did it by train. They were into riding rather than photting so didn't miss the flexibility of having their own transport.
    I've driven from Hannover, Hahn and Berlin airports.
     
  15. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Should add that it's a fair old drive from Hahn to the Harz and wouldn't make that airport of first choice. Just happened to be handy for the journey back from where we went after the Harz.
     
  16. ian king

    ian king New Member

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    For a different route consider Harwich to the Hook by ferry and then train. We did it in February.

    As others have said plenty of decent hotels (all budgets) in Wernigerode. Three days about right to do do theb whole network with time to stop and look from time to time.

    Disagree with the comments about the Mallets though!
     
  17. Hunslets Finest

    Hunslets Finest Well-Known Member

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    Also recommend La Rustica...best value in town but the dark beer is Czech. If you want to photograph the trains then footpaths follow all routes and the bus service to Schierke is also very useful. I have booked train tickets via the DB website and print at home before departure. You need the credit card used as proof of ID when showing the tickets to the TI. Otherwise the DB ticket machines have an English option but have yet to find a bank card that works in them so have plenty of cash.

    Not sure of the appeal of organised trips to the Harz. The great thing is that with so much steam there is no need to pay a premium to get good photos. The mallets are usually out on something so you may well see them and not be surrounded by dozens of other Brits. Access to the shed yards is possible in the evenings and there are weekly trips around the works for the general public. For a premium you can now even book a footplate ride. All the crews and locals I have met are very friendly probably as they rely on visitors for a living. A lack of German has never beeN a problem. Hope you have a great trip. I am looking forward to my next one whenever that might be.
     
  18. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    I would tend to disagree - the workshop tour was when I went in German only and quite a few of the older people in the area speak only German and maybe Russian. But then if you visit a preserved line in the UK you are unlikely to meet too many people who speak anything but English.
     
  19. 45669

    45669 Part of the furniture

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    This is what you missed :
    [​IMG]
    R13598. 99 5901 at Brocken Summit. 18th October, 2003. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

    This was on a Ffestiniog Travel tour. However, they also do 'Tailor Made' tours and organize train tickets, hotels, etc. for those who want to go it alone.

    On one trip to Germany, we decided to stay somewhere for lunch and catch a later train back rather than go back straightaway with the rest of the party. One of the other travellers said "Ooh! You are brave. All alone in a foreign land!"
     
  20. KHARDS

    KHARDS Well-Known Member

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    Hello all. I never managed to get there last year but am determined to do so this year.

    My one issue is the booking of tickets. We are going to get the Eurostar into Brussels. Is common advice that we are best to book through DB travel? I just want to find the best price and avoid agency fees.

    Many thanks.
     

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